Organizational Culture Is Within The Control Of Management

Introduction Interest in the area of corporate culture is said to have originated in the 1970s as a response to the success of Japanese management and the perceived failure of traditional organizational analysis (Hofstede, Neuijen, Ohayv Sanders, 1990; Ouchi, 1985; Martin Frost, 1999). Since then, research has flourished, with particular emphasis placed on the link between culture and corporate performance (Kilmann, Saxton Serpa, 1985). Observations of the most well-known, best run companies, like IBM and Google, seem to suggest that having a unique, cohesive culture can propel a company above the competition (Kilmann et al., 1985). Following from this, it makes sense that figuring out how to control culture to achieve competitive advantage has received a lot of attention from scholars and management alike (Anthony, 1994). In this essay, we will look to explore the extent to which organizational culture is within the control of management. To do this, we will begin by defining culture and shedding light on the debate that culture can be seen in one of two ways – as something that organizations have versus something organizations are (Nord, 1985; Schneider, Ehrhart, Macey, 2012). This contradiction defines the conversation on whether or not managers can control culture. On one hand, if culture is something an organization has, then we can think of it as a variable that one can control, at least to some extent (Meek, 1992; Baker, 1990). In contrast, those who argueShow MoreRelatedThe Role and Responsibility of Company Leadership in Shaping Organizational Culture1712 Words   |  7 PagesAccording to (Organic Workspaces, n. d) an organization’s culture refers to the observable, powerful forces in any organization, usually constituted by the employees’ shared values, beliefs, symbols , and behaviors. The organizational culture ideally influences its decisions and actions (Tharp, n. d). (Watkins, 2013) also defines organizational culture as a consistent and observable pattern of behavior in organizations. An organization’s culture channelizes individual decisions and actions at a subconsciousRead MoreOrganizational Culture And Its Functions863 Words   |  4 PagesINTRODUCTION Organizational culture involves systems of beliefs and values that guide the behavior of individuals within the organization and how they shape behavior (Kummerow, 2013). Organizational structures, on the other hand, dictate the assignment, coordination and control of roles and responsibilities to achieve organizational goals (Pathak 2011). For a company to perform effectively it needs to grow, organizational development is one element of growth that focuses on practice an research focusedRead MoreToyota: a Glimpse of Leadership, Organizational Leadership, and Organizational Structure836 Words   |  4 PagesToyota: A Glimpse of Leadership, Organizational Behavior, and Organizational Structure Courtney Berry Organizational behavior is the study of application of individuals’ behaviors within structured groups within an organization (Robbins Judge, 2007). The field of study identifies behaviors within specific groups and individuals in organizations and how the structures of organizations play a role in behaviors (Robbins Judge, 2007). In the past several months, the leading company in the carRead MoreCorporate Culture Essay1176 Words   |  5 PagesThe culture within an organization can make or break how productive and how responsive the business operates. Organizational culture is the set of shared, taken-for-granted implicit assumptions that a group holds and that determines how it perceives, thins about, and reacts to its various environments, (Kinicki, A. and Kreitner, R., 2009).With that being said it becomes important to set values that you want everyone to work by. This will help when new employees are added to the team and will alsoRead MoreThe Characteristics Of Or ganizational Culture1392 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Organizational culture is very important because it is all about the beliefs, philosophy, principles and morals that every individuals will share within an organization. Furthermore, organizational culture brings unity, loyalty, direction, competition and identity in an organizational and making it an influential element in the accomplishment of the organization. Therefore, it has a powerful influence on the individuals because it sways how employees should act, dress and execute theirRead MoreEssay Management vs. Leadership1138 Words   |  5 PagesManagement vs. Leadership The comparison and differences of traits between leadership and management techniques and styles is like comparing apples and oranges. Leadership should be an asset of management but unfortunately not all managers have leadership qualities A manager is a director, an overseer, someone who dictates employees. A leader is focused on organizing and inspiring people to be entrepreneurs. The role and responsibilities of both leaders and managers in creating and maintainingRead MoreManagement vs. Leadership1184 Words   |  5 PagesManagement vs. Leadership The comparison and differences of traits between leadership and management techniques and styles is like comparing apples and oranges. Leadership should be an asset of management but unfortunately not all managers have leadership qualities A manager is a director, an overseer, someone who dictates employees. A leader is focused on organizing and inspiring people to be entrepreneurs. The role and responsibilities of both leaders and managers in creating and maintainingRead MoreBusiness Failure of Worldcom in the Light of Organizational Behavior Theories1313 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Light of Organizational Behavior Theories Abstract Business failures occur usually due to lack of organizational leadership and unethical practices prevalent within an organization. Managers and leaders tend to be a lighthouse for any organization and if they adopt unethical ways, then the entire organization suffer from extreme loss and disgrace. WorldComs bankruptcy scandal is a big example of business failure which was linked to leadership, management style and organizational behavior prevalentRead MoreThe Crisis Management Of Philippines Essay894 Words   |  4 PagesLocal Studies A local study conducted by Magdalena L. Mendoza (2014) about the crisis management of Philippines. The author stated that there was an absence of solid foundation, inability to distill foreign values, and the â€Å"disconnects† between national culture and local articulation have resulted in the â€Å"adulteration† of Philippine management culture. This culture gap might have been the responsible for the country’s slower pace of development. The adulteration being referred to is the starkRead More Organizational Behavior Essay973 Words   |  4 Pages Organizational Behavior: A Case of Effective Management nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; â€Å"Organizational structure is the formal system of task and reporting relationships that controls, coordinates, and motivates employees so that they cooperate and work together to achieve the organization’s goals†. (George et al, 2002). The importance of structure can’t be stressed enough. Having an organizational structure ensures that each member of the organization has the correct goals of their particular

Should Probation Be A Criminal Offense - 950 Words

In Missouri, there are publicly two forms of probation, SIS probation and SES probation. SIS (Suspended Imposition of Sentence) probation is where a defendant pleads guilty to or is found guilty of a criminal offense, and then is placed on SIS probation for a fixed period of time. Once the probationer successfully completes the probationary period without further criminal charges and if all of the requisites of probation are completed, an SIS will not result in a conviction â€Å"showing† on a criminal record if an Order of Non-Disclosure is obtained which will clear the probationer’s background. Missouri (2013) has a rate about 26% lower than the national average number of probationers per 100,000 people (NIC, 2013). Despite this, Kansas City, according to an October 2014 report by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO) showed that a dwindling number of federal probation officers in KC now must supervise a growing population of released offenders who have the most comprehensive criminal histories in the system (Morris, 2014). In a contemporary world, probation officers could be accurately referred to as brokers of service since they are expected to broker community services and monitor their clients progress and activities in the community. The rules and regulations governing the conditions of probation, parole and conditional release, (referred to as the White Book, 2014) spell out the terms of the contract between the Missouri Board of Corrections and theShow MoreRelatedPre Sentence Investigation ( Psi )832 Words   |  4 PagesPre-Sentence Investigation (PSI) are done in criminal cases and used to assist the Court in getting a clear picture of the defendant as possible so there can be a fair sentencing hearing. As the probation officer assigned to the offender s case the PSI will be used to make an initial assessment of needs and risks. Pursuant to Rule 32 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure the PSI Report should contain the following: (A) identify all applicable guidelines and policy statements of the SentencingRead MoreThe Issue Of Criminal Law1495 Words   |  6 PagesName Teachers Name Date Criminal Justice The topics I am going to use are Criminal Law: It tells about the history, details and the reason that why we need to have some criminal law or laws and why there are so many different laws for different kind of criminals? Probation: Probation is chance to live in your own community by obeying some rules we will discuss what is the history of probation and what kind of importance does it have for society The job for probation and parole officers: ItRead MoreParole and Probation1107 Words   |  5 Pagesranging to non imprisonment yet supervised ways used to deal with criminal offenders who are facing conviction or who has been convicted.. There are punishment an offender may receive such as fines, community service, electronic surveillance also know as house arrest, shock probation, intensive supervision, residential community supervision etc. The most common punishment used by the justice system is probation as well as parole. Probation is the release of an offender from detention , subject to a periodRead MorePretrial Release and Diversion Programs918 Words   |  4 Pagestrial for the crime, the defendant is placed in a probation-type scenario. The court oversees the defendant for a set period of time and if the defendant complies with the terms of the pretrial-diversion program, the defendant is not tried for the initial crime. Conditions of pretrial diversion may include coun seling, drug or alcohol rehabilitation, community education programs, community service, and not committing any additional criminal offenses. These programs are effective on certain types ofRead MoreEssay about Criminal Justice Internship1129 Words   |  5 PagesDallas County Adult Probation Denise Catherine Tobias 133 North Industrial Blvd Dr. Barrum Dallas, TX 75207 REPORT #7 Evaluation and Consolidation of Goals Your final report should be a complete report of your internship experiences under the title How I Evaluate Myself as a Future Criminal Justice Worker, and may not exceed five typed pages. Describe the extent to which the theoretical knowledge included yourRead More criminal justice internship Essay1122 Words   |  5 Pages Dallas County Adult Probation nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Denise Catherine Tobias 133 North Industrial Blvdnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Dr. Barrum Dallas, TX 75207 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;REPORT #7nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Evaluation and ConsolidationRead MoreJuvenile Justice System1739 Words   |  7 Pageslawbreakers could avoid being classified in legal records as criminals. â€Å"The laws were designed to provide treatment, rather than punishment, for juvenile offenders† (Neubauer, 444) California is a decentralized state which means that delinquency services are organized at both the state and local level in California. County probation departments administer detention, commitment, delinquency intake screening, predisposition investigation, and probation supervision (Neubauer, 447). New Jersey is a combinationRead MoreJuvenile Justice System Essay1694 Words   |  7 Pageslawbreakers could avoid being classified in legal records as criminals. â€Å"The laws were designed to provide treatment, rather than punishment, for juvenile offenders† (Neubauer, 444) California is a decentralized state which me ans that delinquency services are organized at both the state and local level in California. County probation departments administer detention, commitment, delinquency intake screening, predisposition investigation, and probation supervision (Neubauer, 447). New Jersey is a combinationRead MoreThe Origins Of Juvenile Justice1385 Words   |  6 Pagesjuvenile system when compared to the adult system. Ans: the creation of the juvenile court was to not punish juveniles as adult but to rehabilitate them. When referring to the terms use in the adult criminal court compare to the term use in juvenile court it varies. Some term used in the adult criminal are: Defendant, charges/indictment, arraignment, prosecution/trail, verdict, sentence, imprisonment, inmate/prisoner, and parole. In the juvenile court they used the terms respondent, petition, hearingRead MoreThe Criminal Justice System And The United States Essay1445 Words   |  6 PagesOvercrowding The Criminal Justice System has made many changes since it first started in the 17th Century. The Criminal Justice System first began in the United States during the colonial times, when the colonist had to follow the rules of the British. During the Colonial times, the Criminal Justices System was not as fair as our current system is today, which meant a lot of people did not have liberties and were ultimately treated unfairly. Times have definitely changed for the Criminal Justice System

Project Delivery Methods-Free-Samples for Students-Myassignment

Question: Analyse various Project Delivery Methods. Answer: Introduction WestLINK aim at increasing the chances of success of this project by integrating the design and management of the activities. Thus, this report briefly analyses various project delivery methods and recommend the best option based on the various assumptions and rationale. Some of the project delivery methods that are briefly highlighted include design-bid-build, design-build and CM@Risk among others. The report further highlights various types of financial contract based on the most relevant project criteria. The discussed financial contract type must be the most pertinent for this type of project and include Lump sum, guaranteed maximum price and cost plus fixed fee contracts. Lastly, the report analysis and recommend the most viable procurement method that can be used to widen the project scope and size. Specifically, the report evaluates Competitive, Best value and Negotiated procurement methods and recommends the most suitable one for a process of this magnitude. Background of case study The case involve the preparation of a comprehensive plan for a client on how to select the best and most viable project delivery system, the financial contract type and the most relevant procurement procedure. The Sydney motorway network is embarking on the improvement and construction of various roads to supplement the existing one. In order to attract funding from the Australian Government to effectively execute the project, this plan is necessary. The proposal will ensure effective monitoring of the quality of the work and ensure relevant approaches are undertaken towards the completion of the project. Some of the inherent challenges that necessitate such a plan include the companys inability to sustain the fast-tracking and control of related costs. Correspondingly, without such a plan, it will be difficult for the company to ensure that workers are safe from the massive traffic from Paramatta road given that more than 140,000 vehicles occasionally move through the corridor. Besi des, a strict 2023 deadline for the project completion implies that WestLINK must adhere to the specified plan that is subsequently detailed. Project delivery methods According to Mollaoglu-Korkmaz et al. (2011), project delivery method refers to a detailed system that is used in the organization and financing specific projects, facilitating operations and maintaining related services. Specifically, project delivery involves such processes and mechanisms involve in the design and building projects. WestLINK must enter into a contractual relationship with the Australian government among other important agencies to effectively design and successfully construct the project. There are numerous factors that influences the selection of project delivery methods. For instance, the experience of the company to the contacted, qualifications and capabilities must be taken into consideration. Likewise, the scale, form, purpose and project complexity are also important factors that cannot be ignored whatsoever (Harold Kerzner, 2013). A project sequence, establishment of timelines, costs and the inherent ability to fast-track project progress are other important factors that will influence project delivery methods (Laslo, 2010). GOALS/CRITERIA CRITERIA WEIGHT Project delivery methods Design-bid-build Design-build CM@Risk Score Weighted score Score Weighted score Score Weighted score Project delivery speed 30 5 150 8 240 5 150 Seamless communication 20 5 100 5 100 5 100 Cost control 30 4 120 6 180 6 180 Work with local subcontractors 20 5 100 6 120 5 100 Total 470 640 530 Design-build with a weighted score of 640 is recommended. This method involves a single entity that is responsible for the design and construction of the project. The company responsible for the project design must ensure that all relevant performance specifications are met before suggesting the start of the actual project (Harold Kerzner, 2013). A single contractor is tasked with developing a contractual relationship with the project owners to identify related costs and better their relations at early stages. The figure below shows this relationship. Under this project delivery method, the involvement of a single entity will save the project owner from the typically difficult bidding process, enhance communication and facilitate effective control and design of the project (Kent Becerik-Gerber, 2010). However, the project owner must give clear details on the specific need and objectives of the project coupled with regular management of the contract to ensure absolute understanding of the stipulated activities (Burke, 2013). Also, the project owner has limited option on the choice of the most appropriate project subcontractor and this may significantly affect delivery. This report recommend this project delivery method to execute the specified construction activities. Under this project delivery method, the project owner is required to seek professional design services who will provide a detailed project design before initiating the actual construction activities. The project is opts to unify such relevant entities to conduct the design and construction activities. According to Mollaoglu-Korkmaz et al. (2011), the best project delivery method must adhere to various financial, organizational and time constraints that are clearly stipulated under the agreement. As outlined in the figure above, the project owner contracts a project design professional who may include a design-build professional and subsequently seeks the services of a general contractor who will facilitate construction process (Kent Becerik-Gerber, 2010). This project delivery method is recommended because it is tested and both the project owner and contractor have increased control and involvement in the design process. The table below gives a summary of recommended project delivery system. Project delivery system Project deliver roles Owner decision maker Project management Design Contracting Construction Coordination of construction Construction coordination and administration Design- build Owner (O) General contractor (GC) GC GC GC O GC and O General contr. owner CM CM GC GC GC CM Advisory mgmt. Owner Construction manager (CM) CM O GC CM CM The delivery method is also appropriate because the project has a strict 2023 deadline, and WestLINK is absolutely committed towards meeting the stipulated deadline without any significant cost overrun. The contractor and owner will also be able to fast trace the construction phases and identify possible costs earlier enough. The contractor is also solely responsible for any risk in the design and this is explicitly stipulated in the contractual agreement (Meskendahl, 2010). Financial contract type: Lump Sum contract GOALS/CRITERIA CRITERIA WEIGHT Financial contract types Lump Sum Unit price GMP CPFF Score Weighted score Score Weighted score Score Weighted score Score Weighted score Project delivery speed 30 7 210 5 150 4 120 5 150 Cost control 20 6 120 6 120 5 100 4 80 Quality work 25 6 150 4 100 6 150 6 150 Risk sharing 25 4 100 6 150 5 125 4 100 Total 100 580 520 495 480 After selecting the best project delivery system for the execution of the project, WestLINK must select the most appropriate contract type that will facilitate the process based on the above criteria. According to Mollaoglu-Korkmaz et al. (2011), a contract refers to an agreement between two or more individuals or bodies to avail specified tasks in exchange for certain payment or compensation. However, contract type highlights the layout that will be used to pay for the services that are stipulated under the contract. The recommended financial contract for this project is lump sum (also known as fixed price contract) with a total weighted score of 580. Under this contract, the project owner is obligated to pay the contractor a particular amount for completing a scale or work without necessarily providing a comprehensive cost breakdown. Specifically, the project owner agrees to pay the contractor an indicated contracted amount after the contract has been validated (Touran et al., 2010). The contractor is solely responsible for any cost overrun and can only issue a change not related to costs in the contract through an official order to the owner. Cost overruns can be as a result of the escalated cost of building materials, poor supplier performance and possible labour unrests. A single lump sum price is all that the project owner is obligated to pay the contractor before the validation of the contract (Schwalbe, 2015). Also, given the strict 2023 project deadline, the contractor must complete the project within the stipulated fixed cost under the agreement. The contractor can make profit from this contract is the project costs are below the estimated expenses (Kerzner, 2013). Also, the project owner is not eligible to claim the remaining amount after project completion. This type of contract is recommended because it eliminates the need for extensive project design and administration. Thus, the project owner must first give a clear definition of the project to enable the contractor to give a rough estimate of the total costs (Kerzner, 2013). If the project owner has a relatively tight time-frame, limited construction experience or tight budget constraints, then this type of financial contract is recommended. According to Mollaoglu-Korkmaz et al. (2011), lump sum contract obligates the contractor to avail specified services under the fixed lump sum amount as postulated under the contractual agreement. Under this contract type, if the estimated costs goes up, the profits are likely to go down. Procurement method: Negotiated contract GOALS/CRITERIA CRITERIA WEIGHT Procurement method Competitive Negotiated Best Value Score Weighted score Score Weighted score Score Weighted score Project delivery speed 35 4 140 8 280 6 210 Product quality 35 6 210 7 245 6 210 Selection flexibility 30 5 150 5 150 5 150 Total 100 560 675 570 Projct owners are tasked with selecting the best contractor based on the price, speed quality of previous work or a combination of both (Touran et al., 2010). The project owner should conduct a comprehensive assessment of the contractors and make the best decision. The recommended procurement method for selecting a contractor for a project of this magnitude is the negotiated contract with a weighted score of 675. Under this procurement method, a contractor is pre-selected based on market reputation and general qualification for the project (Pinto, 2007). The method is time saving as there are no bidding processes allowing the construction activities to start and move as quickly as possible. References Burke, R. (2013). Project management: planning and control techniques.New Jersey, USA. DESIGN-BUILD DONE RIGHT. A DESIGN-BUILD INSTITUTE OF AMERICA PUBLICATION, April 2015 Harold Kerzner, (2013) Project Management: A System Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. Chapter 19. Kent, D. C., Becerik-Gerber, B. (2010). Understanding construction industry experience and attitudes toward integrated project delivery.Journal of construction engineering and management,136(8), 815-825. Kerzner, H. (2011).Using the project management maturity model: strategic planning for project management. John Wiley Sons. Kerzner, H. (2013).Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley Sons. Laslo, Z. (2010). Project portfolio management: An integrated method for resource planning and scheduling to minimize planning/scheduling-dependent expenses.International journal of project management,28(6), 609-618. Meskendahl, S. (2010). The influence of business strategy on project portfolio management and its successa conceptual framework.International Journal of Project Management,28(8), 807-817. Mollaoglu-Korkmaz, S., Swarup, L., Riley, D. (2011). Delivering sustainable, high-performance buildings: Influence of project delivery methods on integration and project outcomes.Journal of Management in Engineering,29(1), 71-78. Pinto, J. K. (2007).Project management: achieving competitive advantage. Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Schwalbe, K. (2015).Information technology project management. Cengage Learning. Touran, A., Gransberg, D. D., Molenaar, K. R., Ghavamifar, K. (2010). Selection of project delivery method in transit: Drivers and objectives.Journal of Management in Engineering,27(1), 21-27.

White Noise Essay Summary Example For Students

White Noise Essay Summary Thanks to everyone who voted for WHITE NOISE as Octobers Book-of-the- Month. WHITE NOISE is probably Don DeLillos most popular novel, largely because most readers see it as DeLillos warmest and most human book. In this story, the ideas that seem to captivate DeLillo are fleshed out in real life in a way that none of his other books quite achieves. Of course, there are a few stubborn souls (like me) who still feel THE NAMES, or one of his other books is better. But I think everyone agrees, WHITE NOISE is a winner. It won DeLillo the National Book Award in 1985, and it also won a larger reading audience for a great American writer. DeLillo has said that Ernest Beckers THE DENIAL OF DEATH was a book that influenced him at the time he wrote WHITE NOISE. Theres certainly no denying that death, and the many things we do to avoid facing it, is a major focus of DeLillos novel. Beckers book, which won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 1974, has as its thesis the assertion that the idea of death, the fear of it, haunts the human animal like nothing else; it is a mainspring of human activityactivity designed largely to avoid the fatality of death, to overcome it by denying in some way that it is the final destiny for man. Beckers point is that this is *the* driving force in the human psyche todaywhich I think is overstating the matter a bitbut it certainly is a reality that all of us face in some way, sooner or later. As I looked through Beckers book last month, I was surprised to discover that its actually an exposition of the work of Otto Rank. Rank was the third of the three famous defectors from Freuds inner psychoanalytic circle early this century (the others being Alder and Jung), and hes known in the literary world to a certain extent because of his intimate involvement with Anais Nin. Like Jung, Rank developed a psychology of mythology and religionand, in particular, Ranks emphasis was The Hero motif. This is what Jung called the puer aeternus (or the f emale puella)the eternal youthwho never ageswho never diesto whom death is nothing. In psychology, this idea is linked closely with that of narcissism, which is considered prevalent in society today. Just look at all the things we do to avoid the appearance of aging! Jack Gladney is, at best, an unlikely Hero, I think. The extreme superficiality of his life is astounding. Everything is meant to *seem* significantHitler studies, the robes and sunglasses, the most photographed barn in America. Like so much of what we see and hear nowadayswhat its about is *sounding* like its about something important. Everything is sense impression. Never mind what a word really meansif it *sounds* solid and strong, then thats reason enough to use it. In this way we escape from nature. We create lives that protect us from the things that are out there somewhere. Im not just a college professor, says Jack. Im the head of a department. I dont see myself fleeing an airborne toxic event. Thats for people who live in mobile homes out in the scrubby parts of the country, where the fish hatcheries are. Michael Valdez Moses addresses this issue in his essay Lust Removed From Nature (in Frank Lentricchias NEW ESSAYS ON WHITE NOISE). Following Heidegger (another influence on DeLillo), Valdez Moses discusses the way technology is changing the inner experience of human beings. And in WHITE NOISE DeLillo shows us how this is done. Waves and radiation. Television serves as kind of new collective unconscious, creating a new inner frame of reference. Consider this line from William Gibsons NEUROMANCER: The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel. What color? Jack Gladney says at one point, His skin was a color that I want to call flesh-toned. Stephie murmurs, Toyota Celica, in her sleep. The TV is now a member of the family. We are moving toward a postmodern mentality. .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8 , .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8 .postImageUrl , .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8 , .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8:hover , .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8:visited , .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8:active { border:0!important; } .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8:active , .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8 .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ucc95b2416b61e2ff5ce3f20e1a1074d8:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: hills like white elephants Essay One of DeLillos refrains (leitmotifs even) that still haunts me is the question of who will die first?Jack speaking of himself or his wife: who will leave the other to die last? to die alone? Its as if Jack is more afraid of this that he is the idea of his own death. Thesis: Jack Gladneys obsession with death illustrates the postmodern attitude that many Americans hold. Furthermore, his world is surrounded with tabloids and a national media that feeds on destroying lives. This feeling of instant gratification along with over consumption, fills the Gladney household with a warped sense on middle class values. As a hole, they can not handle their emotions and have difficulty thinking for themselves. The Gladney family represents the typical dysfunctional family of the post-1970s era. Join me as I browse through the postmodern novel, White Noise. Http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~mcnicholas/E309-Spring98/assign3/Lerner/wnmain.htmJack and Babette has an unbelievable obsession with death and their thoughts haunt their minds to an unhealthy style of living. What if death is nothing but sound? Electrical Noise. You hear it forever. Sound all around. How Awful. Uniform, white (198.) But I feel that the description above represents life in a postmodern world mo re realistically. Not death. The drug specifically interacts with neurotransmitters in the brain that are related to the fear of death (200.) Babette describes the effect of her Dylar medication. The obsession with death virtually runs every aspect of Mr. Mrs. Gladneys lives. The majority of grown adults have a basic fear of death but usually came to peace with themselves over time. However, Jack and Babette are looking for an instant solution 24-hours-a-day. Instead of facing reality, they create an alternative lifestyle and remain plagued in a spiral of depression. A person has to be told he is going to die before he can live life to the fullest(285.) Under normal circumstances I find this true. However, in White Noise that only becomes a reality in the last chapter. After Mr. Grays shooting, Jack begins an evolution towards a more feasible reality. Babette finally concludes that it may not matter how strong or weak Dylar is. If I think it will help me, it will help me(251.) We a re seeing the placebo effect of mediation. As a reader, I infer that the Gladney household will come to respect the healthy days they have now instead of dwelling on what will not exist in the future. In the last chapter, I would introduce that Jack has had a catharsis and come of of his bubble of troubles. http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~mcnicholas/E309-Spring98/assign3/Lerner/fear.htmxEverything we need that is not food or love is here in the tabloid racks. The tales of the supernatural and the extraterrestrial. The miracle vitamins, the cures for cancer, the remedies for obesity. The cults of the famous and the dead. (326)y8Book Reports

Antigone Was Right Essays - Antigone, Civil Disobedience, Haemon

Antigone was Right The story of Antigone deals with Antigone's brother who's body has been left unburied because of crimes against the state. The sight of her brother being unburied drives Antigone to take action against the state and bury her brother regardless of the consequences. The concept of the Greek afterlife was far more important and sacred than living life itself. Everything they did while they were alive was to please the many gods they worshipped. They built temples for their Gods, made statues to symbolize their Gods, and had a different God to explain things that we now say are an act of mother nature. Antigone percieved her actions to be courageous and valid, and Kreone, the King, percieved them as blasphemous. The entire story focuses on deciding who's right. The question arises, "Did Antigone take proper action?" Was it right to go against her Uncle Kreon's wishes and go ahead and bury her brother that was to be left out for the vultures? Would it have been better just to leave the si tuation how it was? The fact is, Antigone did the right thing. She was acting out of divine influence so to speak. Since divinity and humanity are shown to be colliding forces where divinity out weighs humanity in ancient Greece. Antigone was justified in her actions. Antigone was following divine laws, or walking with divine shoes, while Kreone followed the laws of the state. Her brother's afterlife was so important to Antigone that she was willing to give up anything to ensure her brother's happiness and "future" after his death. This supported in the play by the way she is so outspoken about what she had done after she is caught and while she is being questioned. "Why should I be ashamed of my loyalty to my brother?" (Sophocles line 624). Kreon didn't like her speaking in the manner such as this because it shows him that she has no remorse for disobeying his orders. Furthermore, it damaged Kreone's incredible pride. Kreone's pride is so great in fact, that he can't even be swayed by his son Haimon. Haimon asks his father to take his advice and not have Antigone executed, but, because of Kreon's stubborness for the law of the state, Kreon gets furious and makes the situation worse then it already was. He was way too proud to take advice from som eone younger, and in his anger he decided to kill Antigone right away in front of Haimon's eyes. "'Just understand: You don't insult me and go off laughing. Bring her here! Let him see her. Kill her here, beside her bridegroom'" (Sophocles 919-921). This was too much for Haimon to take, and he runs out of the room, yelling, "'?her death will destroy others'" (Sophocles 908). Blinded by his pride and arrogance, Kreon takes that remark as a threat to himself, unknowing that it wasn't directed to him, but was a suicide threat by his own son. Yet, Kreone may have been viewed as justified in his actions as well. Kreon states that the gods would be unhappy if a traitor to their earth were to be buried. Someone that was a traitor to the Gods land would not be admired. The gods would agree that the person should be punished. Kreon "should" have been taken as correct on this argument because kings were the lawgivers and thought to be god-like. The same type of thing goes on in today's government with our president. If we don't like him , which many may not, that does not give us the right to ignore his laws or the laws of this country. The fact is laws are made for a reason, be it good or bad. Even though they may seem a little far-fetched now, they were probably very reasonable then. The law may seem to be unjust to us in today's society but that does not give anyone the right to create their own laws to live by. Unless, they are rebeling against a absoulutism; and this is precisely what Antigone was doing. In the story, Kre one was refferred to as a tyrant. "In the seventh and sixth centuries B.C.E. in one city-state after

Weighing the Scales essays

Weighing the Scales essays Self defense is a defense of ones own person, property, or reputation. Premeditated is considered or planned before hand. Did Meursault, in the story The Stranger, by Camus, have a right to kill the Arab? Were Meursaults actions in the wrong? Was it his battle, or should he have walked away? Sundays for Meursault, are usually stagnant days, no routine, no fun, no importune outings. This Sunday, however, was the climax of the novels action, leading us to Meursaults philosophical insight and conversion, and then to his decapitation. It was one of those mornings when I should have stayed in bed. Certainly this is true in Meursaults case. This day, as we will discover is Meursaults last day of physical freedom, his last day to enjoy swimming and sunning and being with the girl he loves, and Camus has already prepared us for this most unusual and fateful day by blackening Meursaults waking mood and accentuating it with the brightness of Maries gaiety. Its extraordinary that Meursault feels particularly bad, most unusual for someone who was eagerly anticipating this bit of a holiday. The day was looked forward to providing Meursault a chance to get away to the beach with his friends. Moments later, Meursault describes himself as not only feeling rather ill, physically, but as if he were stroke down gleaned by the morning sun. Therefore that kind of puts Meursault in a bad mood basically. Raymond Sintes is one of Meursaults dearest friends. He lives on the same floor as Meursault, and is a pimp. To take things back to square one of the situation, everything happens because of Raymond. The main Arab that they got into it with, was the brother of one of the young ladys he was pimping. The Arab had problems with Raymond because he beat his sister. Therefore he was coming for revenge. Despite Meursaults weariness, one cannot say now that Meursault ...

The Human Stain, the Film by Robert Benton Movie Review

The Human Stain, the Film by Robert Benton - Movie Review Example   The film introduces Nathan Zuckerman, who leads a lonely life in New England due to his divorce and illness. Then Coleman Silk (protagonist), who is a professor expelled from his profession, is introduced by the director. He was expelled from his profession due to racist remarks. This incident affected his family life and he lost his wife. So he decided to write a book with the help of Nathan Zuckerman. When Coleman met Faunia Farley (divorced woman), his decision to write a book on the problems faced by him becomes unimportant. The individuals who are behind Coleman’s problem began to interfere into their relationship. When Lester (say, Faunia's ex-husband) enters, the plot thickens because he unveils Faunia's past. Lester reveals Faunia’s role in the accident which killed their children. Later, the viewers come to know that Coleman’s ancestry is rooted African American community and he was pretending as a Jew. Discussion: The discussion is divided into five sections, namely: human life, racism, identity crisis (Hopkins’s identity), complexity of characters and individual freedom of the director. A. Human life: In the film, the director tries his level best to unveil the secrets of human life and its complexity. For instance, the main characters in the film (Nathan, Coleman, Faunia and Lester) possess dual lives. Their real lives are hidden in their past and they are not ready to unveil the same in front of the viewers. For instance, Nathan does not like to reveal the secrets of his life and decides to keep aloof from the mainstream society. On the other side, Coleman decides to escape from the mainstream society and to hide his identity as an African American. Faunia does not like to reveal her past and her life with her husband. Within this context, Lester uncovers Faunia’s identity and the reason behind the psychological problems faced by him in his personal domain. So, one can easily identify that the main theme of th e film is human life and the secret behind the same. B. Racism: Racism is not the main theme of the film but it is inherent within the same. For instance, Coleman makes use of his fake identity to escape from racism. He very well knew that his real identity as an African American may create problems in his profession. So, he decided to pretend himself as a Jew. But this did not help him much because he became a victim of his own comments on racism. Foster opines that â€Å"Similarly, the passing story of The Human Stain (Robert Benton, 2003) would hold no interest without the inevitable â€Å"reveal†Ã¢â‚¬  (114). From a different angle of view, Coleman’s pretension as a Jew is to veil his real identity as an African American. At the same time, his mask (as a white Jew) did not help him to claim himself as the member of mainstream society. So, Coleman’s attempt can be considered as a futile attempt to escape from racism. C. Identity crisis (Hopkins’s ide ntity) The main characters, including the protagonist, face the problem of identity crisis and related problems in their personal lives. For instance, Nathan’s idle life is an attempt to escape from identity crisis. On the other side, Coleman’s relationship with Faunia is an attempt to escape from mechanical life.  Ã‚  

Design Innovation in Pakistan Textile Literature review

Design Innovation in Pakistan Textile - Literature review Example Art and craft is not schemed by the Ministry of Education, but teachers are availing lessons nowadays, with increased integration of the art and craft lessons in all levels of education curriculums in Pakistan would lead to innovations in terms of design. The textile University of Faisalabad, and University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore are the major players towards value addition in terms of textile related art and design courses. The government is obligated towards availing support to other institutions towards the textile design innovation. Hands-on or practical oriented courses are required for the art and design courses. The textile University of Faisalabad has courses in contemporary designs, Islamic arts, and various forms of designs for relevancy of their students in the job market. Other higher learning institutions as well contribute to both the Pakistan and global textile industry innovation; via design-oriented courses. The sculpturing and painting were developed in the Renaissance age. The Islamic art and designs for functionality and aesthetics were the key features in the industrialization period prior to transforming to the visual appeal art and design characteristic of the modern age. Different aspects of Islamic art features developments over the course of history were indicated. The transformation or evolution of art and design has been systematic since the stone age, early man era, through to the age of modern art. Various firms in Pakistan carry textile product design and production; this ranges from small scale to large-scale firms. Income and employment availed by the firm are some of the benefits; hence symbol of sustainability. The design and production or manufacture of the textile products via R & D production methods is yet to be fully embraced or realized, because of high initial cost of investment and high energy input costs Availability of

Introduction to operations and supply chain management Case Study

Introduction to operations and supply chain management - Case Study Example s by having electronics products that would otherwise pose health risks in landfills, being taken back to the factory to leave the lands free for other economic activities (Partridge, 2010). Thirdly, the specific consumers usually benefit from better, more functional electronic products by replacing their outdated versions with new ones. Finally, by absorbing the waste plastics and circuit boards of dysfunctional products, Samsung is technically saving the relevant governments of resources which would otherwise be used to maintain an eco-friendly environment (Partridge, 2010). This implies the electronics manufacturer has technically eliminated the need for governments in charge of its markets to create awareness on the need for environmental conservation and or to set up waste recycling plants such as plastic incinerators. According to Partridge (2010), building sustainable supply chains differs from good business practices because the former is more comprehensive. Sustainable supply chains involves incorporating ecologically and financially worthwhile practices in the core of supply chain processes, from R&D stages, to raw material selection, to production, packaging, haulage, storage, delivery, consumption and disposal. In contrast, good business practices are rather secondary to the production and supply of products. Samsung would still have implemented the Take Back and Recycling programs in markets where there are limited regulations, as a way of capping costs of production and keeping in pace with rapidly evolving technologies in the electronics industry. As Partridge (2010) noted, technology and electronic products are normally affected the most by rapid development of more sophisticated gadgetry. Constant evolution of technologies would have pushed Samsung into adopting Take Back and Recycling program on the basis of keeping the cost of production and distribution considering that procuring new supplies is usually costlier. The same case applies to

China’s Economic Expansion: Implications for U.S. Trade and Hegemonic Stability

China’s Economic Expansion: Implications for U.S. Trade and Hegemonic Stability A Changing Global Landscape China is very rapidly approaching economic parity with the United States, which may lead to significant global shifts in power.   Hegemonic stability theory suggests that an international system is more likely to remain stable if a single player is a dominant world power, thus the global equilibrium tends toward a hegemonic state.[1]   The United States emerged as the global hegemon after World War II, specifically in terms of economic power, and has largely provided stability for the global economic system since that time.   While the U.S. has been able to maintain this position throughout most of the 20th Century, China is rapidly rising as an influential economic player and could potentially displace the United States as the global economic leader.   China’s ambitious economic expansion projects, including the New Silk Road initiative and Made in China 2025, have the potential to shift the nexus of economic power from the United States’ and the West toward a Europe-China-centric scenario.   Additionally, the rise of populist-nationalist political rhetoric within the United States could portend a policy shift toward economic protectionism, which would further accelerate the demise of the U.S. economic hegemon and the rise of China as its successor.   It would be in the best interest of the United States to engage with China in a cooperative and mutually beneficial way, perhaps even as a partner in China’s economic development initiatives, in order to preserve American economic prosperity. China’s Economy: An Historic Overview Insight into China’s modern strategy for economic expansion is only possible within the context of China’s past.   Throughout most of China’s history, the Chinese economy was barely able to meet the basic needs of the country’s huge population, including its basic nutritional needs.[2]   Drought, war and social unrest often led to periods of famine and mass starvation before 1949, when the Chinese Communist Party came to power.[3]   After this transition, food storage became centrally controlled by the government.   This method allowed the country to successfully avert famine, and food production grew rapidly after 1949.   This increase in productivity was largely matched by population growth until the one-child policy was instituted in the 1980’s, thus the increased production capacity was not able to outpace essential consumption needs, and very little surplus was produced.[4] The long-term goal of the Communist party was to transform China into a modern, industrialized nation with improved living standards and minimal economic disparity (i.e. a classless society), and to modernize military equipment.   The government leadership initially adopted the Soviet economic model, which focused on achieving a high rate of economic growth that emphasized industrial development at the expense of agricultural development.   Through this process, a solid foundation was created in iron and steel manufacturing, coal mining, cement making and other modern industrial technologies.   Although the government also endeavored to facilitate the mobilization of agricultural resources by encouraging farmers to organize into increasingly large and socialized collective units, the results were not as dramatic as the level of growth within the industrial sectors.[5] In response to the tepid growth in the agricultural sector, in 1957 the Chinese government largely shifted authority for economic decision making to the provincial, county, and local level.   During this time, the Chinese leadership abandoned the Soviet model and instead adopted an approach that relied on spontaneous efforts by the entire population to induce a â€Å"great leap† within all economic sectors at once, which helped to stimulate agricultural growth.   The initial problem with this approach was the lack of sufficient capital to invest in both industrial development and agriculture simultaneously.   To overcome this problem, the leadership attempted to create capital within the agricultural sector by building vast irrigation systems, employing huge teams of underemployed farmers.[6] Despite these advances, the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s under Mao Zedong severely stifled technological innovation within China.[7]   This was largely a political phenomenon, where the Communist Party attempted to consolidate power by expelling any hint of budding capitalist ideas, Chinese traditionalists, and intellectuals.   However, it had a pronounced effect on the growing Chinese economy.   Factory managers were largely replaced with Communist Party operatives who had very little knowledge of management or of the enterprise they were supposed to run.   Engineers, scientists, and other professional personnel were sent to the countryside as laborers, or were jailed as dissidents.   Additionally, the Cultural Revolution forced the closing of Universities, which severely hindered China’s ability to develop new technology.   This loss of key knowledge resulted in a 14% decline in industrial production by 1967.[8] In the late 1970’s, after the death of Mao, the Chinese government reaffirmed the modernization program espoused prior to the Cultural Revolution.[9]   The Chinese leaders determined that the centrally planned economy had failed to produce sufficient economic growth, and had caused China to fall behind the industrialized powers of the West and the newly industrialized Asian nations.   While the Communist leadership did not want to completely abandon the centrally planned economy idea, it strived to make it work better by increasing the role of market mechanisms and by reducing the level of centralized government control.   For industry, this included increased autonomy and the ability of managers to keep profits instead of remitting everything earned to the state.   While some key industries were still centrally controlled, individual enterprise was allowed (to an extent) as a means to incentivize economic growth and to reduce unemployment.[10] In recent history, China has been less of an innovator and more of an imitator of foreign technology and innovations.   China’s modern industrial development paradigm lags behind that of the developed world.   While the Chinese government has policy initiatives to encourage internal research and development and technology transfer from outside economies, shortcomings from the pre-reform, planned economy era have constrained China’s ability to efficiently innovate.   China’s Modern Innovation Strategy   In order for any economy to innovate and grow, individual firms must focus on a combination of internal research and development efforts and external technology acquisition.   In this context, the definition of â€Å"technology† is expanded from the vernacular to include processes and ideas that enhance a firm or organization’s ability to compete.[11]   Establishing a strategy that combines these efforts most efficiently is necessary to maximize overall economic development.[12]   In modern microeconomic theory, internal research and development and external technology acquisition are considered to be complimentary innovation strategies.   Economic activities are complimentary if the adoption of one does not preclude the other, and if the sum benefit of implementing both activities concurrently is greater than the benefit of implementing just one or the other.[13]   Assuming the complementarity of internal research and development and external technology a cquisition, authors Fu, Pietrobelli and Soete argue that the absorptive capacity of any small or medium firm within a developing economy is the limiting factor to successfully executing technology transfer.[14]   The authors define absorptive capacity as â€Å"a firm’s ability to recognize the value of new information, assimilate it, and apply it to commercial ends.†[15] In another study, Authors Hou and Mohnen[16] tested the complementarity of internal research and development and external technology transfer in Chinese firms and found that the two technology acquisition strategies are indeed complimentary, but that external technology acquisition yielded higher returns than internal research and development for small and medium firms.   Additionally, the authors found that state-ownership of firms correlated with both product and process innovation, presumably because of increased access to financial and policy support from the central government.   This relationship would likely increase the absorptive capacity of the firm.   This suggests that small and medium firms with no government connection may be at a disadvantage due to a reduced absorptive capacity, and may be incentivized to work closely with the central Chinese government in order to acquire the necessary resources to compete within the Chinese and global marketplace.[17]   Thus , while China’s modern economic development strategy is ostensibly about supporting the expansion of small, private firms, state-connections are highly incentivized by the market. The New Silk Road China’s New Silk Road initiative is a logical extension of China’s economic expansion and modernization efforts.   This initiative is an allusion to its namesake trade network stretching from China to Central Asia and the Middle East, which was established over 2,000 years ago.[18]   In 2013, China proposed establishing a modern analog to the ancient Silk Road; however, instead of transporting silk and spices, this would build a network of railways, pipelines and utility grids to link China to the Middle East and Eastern Europe via Central Asia.[19]   Also known as the One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR), this massive infrastructure project aims to create the world’s largest network for economic cooperation.   This development would make it much more efficient for China to trade with 65 countries, representing 60 percent of the global population.[20]   China markets the initiative as a net win for all parties involved, and host governments see the New S ilk Road as an opportunity for job creation, economic development, and participation in the global supply chain.[21]   The New Silk Road initiative would allow China to more efficiently project soft power within Asia, Africa and Europe, which could have significant trade and national security implications for the United States.   Chinese firms have increased their foreign investment within partner countries in order to pave the way for the New Silk Road.   According to the Economist, several economic research organizations predict that the total Chinese investment abroad could rise to $2 trillion USD by 2020.[22]   For comparison, this figure was less than $800 billion USD at the end of 2014.[23]   As stated previously, Chinese firms are strongly incentivized to maintain connections with Chinese state-owned entities (or to be state-owned entities themselves), thus it stands to reason that much of the value earned through this investment will directly benefit the Chinese government.   The Chinese regime’s entanglement within the region will likely introduce significant hurdles to U.S. activities, and may diminish U.S. influence in Central Asia, the Middle East, and possibly Europe.   It is worth noting that Beijing established $100 billion USD Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIID), a multinational funding body, to support New Silk Road investments. [24]   The AIID currently has 57 members, including Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Russia.[25]   Notably absent is the United States. Made in China 2025 Not only is China expanding its economic reach and soft power influence within Eurasia via the New Silk Road, but it is also working to shift its overall production upmarket from low level manufacturing to advanced technology development.[26]   Made in China 2025 is an effort to completely upgrade Chinese industry.   The Chinese government has outlined clear principles establishing the goals of the initiative, including a desire to comprehensively upgrade Chinese industry by making it more efficient so that it can participate in the highest-level global production chains.   It also strives to create more innovation-driven manufacturing that emphasizes quality over quantity, environmentally sustainable development, and human capital management.[27]   While these are worthy goals for any country, China’s upmarket shift from manufacturing large quantities of inexpensive, low-quality goods to high-tech, high-quality products could disrupt the global market for high-tech go ods because of China’s large production capacity.   In the same way that inexpensive Chinese manufacturing has shifted labor from the United States to China, an upmarket shift in China’s manufacturing may have the same effect on highly skilled workers within the United States. Implications for the United States In order to mitigate the global effects of China’s economic expansion that may be detrimental to the U.S. strategic position, it is imperative for the United States to engage with China in a cooperative and mutually beneficial way.   President Donald Trump has been a vocal critic of trade deals, and has been especially harsh on Beijing, effectively blaming low Chinese labor costs for the perceived lack of American jobs.[28]   According to the United States Trade Representative, two-way trade with China was $598 billion USD in 2015, thus making China the United States’ largest trading partner.[29]   If the anti-Chinese rhetoric manifests as higher tariffs on Chinese imports, China may focus its trade efforts away from the United States and toward its New Silk Road partners, thus significantly reducing U.S. international trade.[30] The impact of arresting trade with China on U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) is difficult to ascertain due to competing variables, but it is likely to have a net negative effect.   While tariffs would increase the net exports variable used in calculating GDP (the U.S. is a net importer from China), they may adversely affect other factors that contribute to GDP.   For example, Chinese goods are less expensive to produce than U.S. and most European goods.   Thus, if the United States diverts its import activities from China to Europe or increases domestic production, these goods will likely be more expensive than the Chinese alternatives, thus reducing overall domestic consumption within the United States.   This new equilibrium would also affect the supply of domestic goods as demand decreases, thus also reducing U.S. investment in domestic production (and a subsequent reduction in demand for labor).   Overall, this may lead to a net decrease in the U.S. GDP and a reduction in available jobs within the United States.   This American jobs loss would be exacerbated further as China shifts its manufacturing capabilities upmarket via the Made in China 2025 initiative, which may induce the offshoring highly skilled U.S. jobs in addition to skilled labor.   Not only would tariffs further incentivize China to focus its trade efforts on its New Silk Road partners, but they may evoke the second order effect of encouraging Europe to look to China for economic leadership.   This could occur if China responds to U.S. tariffs by accelerating its economic expansion into Eastern Europe.   This would likely reduce U.S. economic influence in Europe, and thus limit the U.S. ability to project soft power within the region.   This would further shift the hegemon toward China as the global economic leader.   In conclusion, Chinese economic expansion activities, including the New Silk Road Initiative and Made in China 2025, could lead to a global hegemonic shift.   This is especially true as China expands its influence toward Europe.   As the United States’ global influence wanes, Europe and U.S. allies within Central Asia may turn to China as the new hegemon – a new global economic leader.   Global power structures are dynamic, and it is unlikely that the future global power landscape will encompass a unipolar U.S. hegemon as it has in the past.   However, a multipolar hegemon including both the United States and China is surely possible.   It would benefit the United States to engage China in a cooperative and mutually beneficial way by preserving economically liberal trade arrangements.   Additionally, the U.S should strive to maintain its position as a major soft power player in Asia and Europe and work diligently to maintain its trade relationships withi n Europe and Central Asia, possibly through partnering with China on the New Silk Road.   This is of great strategic importance not only for the U.S. national security, but also for continued American economic prosperity. Bibliography Buck, John.   China’s Farm Economy. (University of Chicago Press, 1930). Carbaugh, Robert. Contemporary Economics: An Applications Approach. (Cengage Learning, 2006). Christensen, Clayton M.   The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail (Management of Innovation and Change).   Harvard Business Review Press.   January 5, 2016. Cohen, Tyler.   â€Å"Seeing China Through its Economic History.† Bloomberg (July 25, 2016), Accessed 4 April 2017. https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-07-25/seeing-china-through-its-economic-history Cohen, Wesley M. and Levinthal, Daniel A., Absorptive capacity: A new perspective on learning and innovation, Administrative Science Quarterly 35, no 1 (1990):128-152. Elisseeff, Vadime.   The Silk Roads: Highways of Culture and Commerce.   Berghahn Books, 2000. Fu, Xiaolan, et al., â€Å"The Role of Foreign Technology and Indigenous Innovation in the Emerging Economies: Technological Change and Catching-up†, World Development 39, no 7 (July 2011): 1204-1212. Gramer, Robbie.   â€Å"All aboard China’s ‘New Silk Road’ Express.† Foreign Policy.   4 January 2017. Guluzian, Christine R. â€Å"Making Inroads: China’s New Silk Road Initiative.†Ã‚   Cato Journal, Vol. 37, No. 1 (Winter 2017). Heilmann, Sebastian.   â€Å"China’s Technology Grab.† The International Economy.   Spring 2016. Hou, Jun and Mohnen, Pierre, â€Å"Complementarity between in-house R&D and technology purchasing: evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms†, United Nations University Working Paper, (August 2011). Jinchen, Tian. ‘One Belt and One Road’: Connecting China and the World. McKinsey&Company: Capital Projects and Infrastructure.   July 2016. â€Å"Made in China 2025.†Ã‚   Center for Strategic and International Studies.   Accessed 31 March 2017. http://www.csis.org/analysis/made-in-china-2025. Miller, Berkshire, J.   â€Å"Dissecting Trump’s Hardline Rhetoric on China.† China U.S. Focus.   Accessed 4 April 2017.   http://www.chinausfocus.com/foreign-policy/dissecting-trumps-hardline-rhetoric-on-china. Morrison, Wayne M.   â€Å"China’s Economic Rise: History, Trends, Challenges and Implications for the United States.† Congressional Research Service Report. (October 21, 2015). Oatley, Thomas.   International Political Economy, 5th Edition.   New York: Routledge, 2016. Office of the United States Trade Representative.   The People’s Republic of China.   Accessed 4 April 2017.   https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/china-mongolia-taiwan/peoples-republic-china. Slate, Robert. â€Å"Competing with Intelligence: New Directions in China’s Quest for Intangible Property and Implications for Homeland Security,† Homeland Security Affairs 5, no 1 (January 2009):1-27. â€Å"The New Silk Road.†Ã‚   The Economist Special Report. September 2015. Worde, Robert, et al., ed, China: A Country Study (Federal Research Division, U.S. Library of Congress, 1987). [1] Thomas Oatley.   International Political Economy, 5th Edition.   New York: Routledge, 2016. [2] John Buck.   China’s Farm Economy. (University of Chicago Press, 1930). [3] Robert Worde, et al., ed, China: A Country Study (Federal Research Division, U.S. Library of Congress, 1987), 207. [4] Ibid, 207. [5] Ibid, 215. [6] Ibid, 216. [7] Tyler Cohen.   â€Å"Seeing China Through its Economic History.† Bloomberg (July 25, 2016), Accessed 4 April 2017. https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-07-25/seeing-china-through-its-economic-history [8] Ibid, 220. [9] Wayne M. Morrison.   â€Å"China’s Economic Rise: History, Trends, Challenges and Implications for the United States.† Congressional Research Service Report. (October 21, 2015). [10] Ibid, 223. [11] Clayton M. Christensen.   The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail (Management of Innovation and Change).   Harvard Business Review Press.   January 5, 2016. [12] Jun Hou and Pierre Mohnen, â€Å"Complementarity between in-house R&D and technology purchasing: evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms†, United Nations University Working Paper, (August 2011): 1-23. [13] Robert Carbaugh. Contemporary Economics: An Applications Approach. (Cengage Learning, 2006), 35. [14] Xiaolan Fu, Carlo Pietrobelli, Luc Soete, â€Å"The Role of Foreign Technology and Indigenous Innovation in the Emerging Economies: Technological Change and Catching-up†, World Development 39, no 7 (July 2011): 1204-1212. [15] Wesley M. Cohen and Daniel A. Levinthal, Absorptive capacity: A new perspective on learning and innovation, Administrative Science Quarterly 35, no 1 (1990):128-152. [16] Hou and Mohnen. [17] Robert Slate, â€Å"Competing with Intelligence: New Directions in China’s Quest for Intangible Property and Implications for Homeland Security,† Homeland Security Affairs 5, no 1 (January 2009):1-27. [18] Vadime Elisseeff.   The Silk Roads: Highways of Culture and Commerce.   Berghahn Books, 2000. [19] Tian Jinchen, ‘One Belt and One Road’: Connecting China and the World. McKinsey&Company: Capital Projects and Infrastructure.   July 2016. [20] Robbie Gramer.   â€Å"All aboard China’s ‘New Silk Road’ Express.† Foreign Policy.   4 January 2017. [21] Christine R. Guluzian. â€Å"Making Inroads: China’s New Silk Road Initiative.†Ã‚   Cato Journal, Vol. 37, No. 1 (Winter 2017). [22] â€Å"The New Silk Road.†Ã‚   The Economist Special Report. September 2015. [23] Ibid. [24] Guluzian, Cato Journal. [25] Ibid. [26] Sebastian Heilmann.   â€Å"China’s Technology Grab.† The International Economy.   Spring 2016. [27] â€Å"Made in China 2025.†Ã‚   Center for Strategic and International Studies.   Accessed 31 March 2017. http://www.csis.org/analysis/made-in-china-2025 [28] J. Berkshire Miller.   â€Å"Dissecting Trump’s Hardline Rhetoric on China.† China U.S. Focus.   Accessed 4 April 2017.   http://www.chinausfocus.com/foreign-policy/dissecting-trumps-hardline-rhetoric-on-china [29] Office of the United States Trade Representative.   The People’s Republic of China.   Accessed 4 April 2017.   https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/china-mongolia-taiwan/peoples-republic-china [30] Gramer, Foreign Policy.

Chernobyl :: essays research papers

Chernobyl   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Chernobyl was the greatest nuclear disaster of the 20th century. On April 26th, 1986, one of four nuclear reactors located in the Soviet Union melted down and contaminated a vast area of Eastern Europe. The meltdown, a result of human error, lapsed safety precautions, and lack of a containment vessel, was barely contained by dropping sand and releasing huge amounts of deadly radioactive isotopes into the atmosphere. The resulting contamination killed or injured hundreds of thousands of people and devastated the environment. The affects of this accident are still being felt today and will be felt for generations to come.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nuclear power has always been a controversial issue because of its inherent danger and the amount of waste that the plants produce. Once considered a relatively safe form for generating energy, nuclear power has caused more problems than it has solved. While it has reduced the amount of traditional natural resources (fossil fuels), used to generate power like coal, wood, and oil, nuclear generating plants have become anachronisms. Maintaining them and keeping them safe has become a problem of immense proportion. As the plants age and other technology becomes available, what to do with these â€Å"eyesores† is a consuming issue for many government agencies and environmental groups. No one knows what to do about the problem and in many areas of the world, another nuclear meltdown is an accident waiting to happen. Despite a vast array of safety measures, a break in reactor pipe or a leak in a containment vessel, could spell another environmental disaster for t he world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In addition to the potential dangers of accidents in generating stations, nuclear waste is a continuing problem that is growing exponentially. Nuclear waste can remain radioactive for about 600 years and disposing these wastes or storing them is an immense problem. Everyone wants the energy generated by power plants, but no one wants to take responsibility for the waste. Thus far, it is stored deep in the earth, but these storage areas are potentially dangerous and will eventually run out. Some have suggested sending the waste into space, but no one is sure of the repercussions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nuclear power plants should be dismantled and replaced with safer energy generating sources.

Marketing Management Week 5

Strategic planning at the corporate level involves the formulation of strategies to achieve the corporate goals and objectives. Corporate goals and objectives are the specific goals or objectives that the company is striving to achieve to fulfill the corporate mission and vision. Examples of corporate strategies include product differentiation strategy which is employed by a company when the product or service launched to the market is something that does not exist yet in the market. At the division level, strategic planning involves the formulation of strategies to attain the divisional objectives and goals of the company. The company may be divided into functional divisions (marketing, finance, production, and human resource) which have functional goals and objectives. To reach these goals and objectives, the company devises strategic plans for each functional division. For instance, the company might have decided to use the just-in-time production strategy to attain the goal of reduced storage cost. Finally, strategic planning at the business unit level involves the formulation of strategies to achieve the goals or objectives of the strategic business units (SBUs). If the structure of the company is divided into product SBUs, for example, then as part of the strategic planning, the product SBU goals and objectives should be attained. Product SBU strategies may include promotional strategies to achieve product SBU goals like 100 percent increase in profit of a certain product line. (2) The marketing process involves conducting a situational analysis by considering the internal and external environment to determine the opportunities and threats the company may face. It also involves formulation of strategy by using the company’s strengths to exploit the opportunities and minimize threats and improve weaknesses (SWOT analysis). This would be followed by marketing mix decisions concerning the four P’s of marketing (product, place, promotion, and price). Finally, the marketing plan is implemented and adjusted in accordance to changes in consumer preferences. (3) A marketing plan includes a situational analysis to investigate the internal and external environment of the company. This involves conducting a company analysis where the goals and current capabilities (strengths and weaknesses) of the company are identified. This is followed by the presentation of market segmentation which involves identifying your market and how they can be divided into different groups of customers (segments). Through market segmentation, the company would be able to customize its approach to different market segments in order to satisfy the needs or preferences of each market segment. A marketing plan also includes a discussion of alternative marketing strategies. This part discusses the marketing strategies the company considered to employ before deciding to pursue the recommended strategy. Examples of alternatives marketing strategies include re-branding and discontinuing a product line. Finally, the marketing strategies for each of the four P’s of marketing (product, place, promotion, and price strategies) are discussed. (4) A thorough market research is imperative to effectively manage the marketing process the central focus of which is the market needs and preferences. Since the ultimate goal of the marketing process is to satisfy the needs and wants of the customers in order to maximize profit, a company needs to learn about all the details concerning its target market. Hence, the company has to conduct a market research on what would satisfy the customer’s needs and preferences. In this way, the company would be able to successfully manage the marketing process. This would also ensure that there is an existing market for the product. Â  An effective implementation of the marketing process would prevent the company from having financial losses due to bad investments. References Netmba.com (2007). The marketing process. Retrieved November 15, 2007, from http://www.netmba.com/marketing/process/ Quickmba.com (2007). Marketing plan outline. Retrieved November 15, 2007, from http://www.quickmba.com/marketing/plan/ Â  

Exploding Balloons Science Project

Exploding Balloons Science Project Im sure you are well aware you can fill a balloon with a flammable gas, ignite it and cause it to explode. How about something a little less dangerous? Heres a quick and easy project you can try that allows you to produce a fireball, without a whole lot of risk to yourself, others or property. Heres what you do: Exploding Balloon Materials You will need small balloons and one or more of the following powders: CornstarchNon-dairy creamerPowdered sugarPowdered milkLycopodium powder There are other powders that will work, but these are non-toxic and not ordinarily flammable. Make Exploding Balloons Add about a teaspoon of any of these powders to your balloon. If you have a small funnel, that will greatly simplify things. Otherwise, crease a sheet of paper and use it to deliver the powder into the balloon.Blow up the balloon and tie it off. You can do this the old-fashioned way or you can use compressed air. If you are a daredevil you can use oxygen or hydrogen, but that defeats the purpose of my nice safe project.Place the balloon some distance away from you and use a lighter or candle on a meter stick to pop it and ignite the powder. Disclaimer: Please be advised that the content provided by our website is for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. Fireworks and the chemicals contained within them are dangerous and should always be handled with care and used with common sense. By using this website you acknowledge that ThoughtCo., its parent About, Inc. (a/k/a Dotdash), and IAC/InterActive Corp. shall have no liability for any damages, injuries, or other legal matters caused by your use of fireworks or the knowledge or application of the information on this website. The providers of this content specifically do not condone using fireworks for disruptive, unsafe, illegal, or destructive purposes. You are responsible for following all applicable laws before using or applying the information provided on this website.

3 Tips for Staying Focused at Work During the Holidays

3 Tips for Staying Focused at Work During the Holidays Don’t let your holiday shopping, budgeting, travel-planning- or the weather!- get the better of you this season. Stay focused on wrapping up your year and gearing up for 2017. 1. Deflect the interruptionsThe holidays are always extra distracting. Prepare yourself for the inevitable onslaught and don’t let yourself give in. Instead, use the interruptions to structure your day. Online shopping session? Office cookie break? Set these as deadlines for you to work toward and remain diligent  until its time for your break.2. Look for the right projectsEveryone’s schedules are erratic during the holidays. If you’re stuck working when everyone else is out of office, use the peace and quiet to get work done on your pet projects and big picture tasks. And don’t forget that holiday parties and lingering team lunches can be a great networking opportunity, rather than a waste of time.3. Don’t take it homeStaying focused at the desk means you don’ t have to stay late to get ahead or be on your email 24/7. Make sure to save your off-work hours for all of those distractions you’ve been fending off so successfully. Save time for your shopping and traveling and package-mailing and savor it. Guard it, even. And if you’re worried about getting those things done, schedule them as though they were after-hours meetings.Being mindful about distractions and staying focused will make you more relaxed throughout the holiday season. You’ll probably find you’re way ahead of the game once the fun is over and everybody’s back at work.

IS theories, are they emerged in IS disciplines or adopted from other Article

IS theories, are they emerged in IS disciplines or adopted from other disciplines - Article Example The field of Information System is dependent on knowledge and information concerning a world made up of physical systems, designed artifacts and human behavior (Gregory and Dennis, 2005, p.3). However, it is essential to ensure that only relevant knowledge is theorized, and in an integrated manner. Ideas may be retrieved from diverse disciplines; however this has to be done with an aim of focusing on the nature of information system and its uniqueness. A theory, according to Merriam-Webster (2004), can be said to be a hypothesis that is developed for the sake of an investigation. A discipline, on the other hand, may be referred to as a branch of learning or institution. This, however, does not mean that the disciplines are confined to only their areas of study. This supposition therefore means that Information Systems is by nature â€Å"single†. This, however, is not the case as Information System is regarded as â€Å"pluralistic† field. This is because it draws its kno wledge from other, different and more reputable disciplines. Some form of control should be established in each field to avoid cases where there’s no agreed upon area of teaching, practice or research. Such a case would result in incoherence and, low status for the discipline. A balance should be established to avoid total control or general incoherence of the discipline. Scoping Information System Applications in IT are now revolutionizing the way in which firms conduct their daily operations. Such changes have allowed researchers to contribute significantly towards helping the organizations to embrace thes changes. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) states that, the advances and changes in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are revolutionizing economic activities just like electricity, steam engine or the railways in the past (OECD, 2001). The progress made in computer technologies has today led to the rise of diverse areas of appli cation. This has, therefore, contributed to an increase in the role of IS while expanding its scope. This makes ICT technologies present in numerous and diverse areas such as governments, health sector, etc. According to Avison and Fitzgerald (2003, p. xi), information systems are â€Å"†¦ the effective design, delivery, use and impact of information technology in the organizations and society†. This definition touches on one of the significant aspects of IS, that is the creation of IT applications. It also identifies the fact that a broader attention rather than just technology applies in ICT applications. IS discipline has moved from it technology centered focus to other areas that include management, technology, social and organization. Information System is not entirely about technology nor is it a management field like put by Webster and Watson (2002). Information system is distinguishable from these disciplines due to the incorporation of artifacts in machine-human systems. According to Lee: â€Å"Research in the information systems field examines more than just the technological system, or just the social system, or even the two side by side; in addition, it investigates the phenomena that emerge when the two interact.† (2001, p. iii) This, therefore, goes to show that information system is the discipline that combines the knowledge of humans with that of physical objects. One can draw relations between Information System

Professional Articles Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Professional Articles Review - Essay Example Journal Of Science Teacher Education, 21(2), 161-179. Doi: 10.1007/s10972-009-9161-8.758540. Mizrap, B. (2013). Teaching science through play in kindergarten: does integrated play and science instruction build understanding? European Early Childhood Education Research Journal. Vol. 21, No. 2, 226–249, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2013.789195. The Effects of Kindergarten Experiences on Childrens Elementary Science Achievement educational policymakers struggle to form a curriculum that could help utilize the maximum potential of every child. It is apparent that the policymakers try to understand when and what should be done to enhance the cognitive growth in every child. The article The Effects of Kindergarten Experiences on Children’s Elementary Science Achievement presents answers to these issues obtained through statistical analysis of sample data consisting of 4,490 kindergarten children. The research conducted a quantitative analysis using the idea that there is a powerful connection between early childhood education and children intellectual development (Kumtepe, Kaya & Kumtepe, 2009, p. 978). Similarly, the authors talked about a study of student teachers attitudes that teaches science during preschool teacher education and how that influences them and affects their visions of the teacher’s role and th eir positions in science teaching. Furthermore, the author believes that a teacher’s role and attitudes toward science and science teaching will affect preschool teacher’s behavior and confidence in the training teacher program. In the article ‘‘Science Talks’’ in Kindergarten Classrooms: Improving Classroom Practice Through Collaborative Action Research, this article explores the importance of assimilating science talks in Kindergarten classrooms as a contemporary teaching technique of centralized learning. Sarah, a Kindergarten teacher, demonstrates the importance of science talks in promoting learning of science. Integrating

Strategy of Zara Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Strategy of Zara - Essay Example According to the paper strong financial backing is provided to Zara by the parent firm Inditex. The parent firm has touched revenue of â‚ ¬13.79 billion. The retail chain however holds various trademarks. While talking about trademarks it needs to be mentioned that very recently Zara had defeated Louboutin in France in battle related to the mark of red soles. This helped the high street retailer to boost sales of the shoes.This essay discusses that the exclusive logos and brands are the resources that have helped the company to achieve product differentiation. The communication system also integrates the management, designers, suppliers, manufacturers and customers. Zara also has a very unique inventory model as the company does not hold a large amount of stock at eh stores. The ability of Zara to adapt the rapidly changing trends of the fast fashion industry along with rapid rate of inventory turnover installs a sense of freshness and exclusiveness in the brand. Zara operates thr ough a flat organizational structure and self driven leadership model. The founders of Zara Ortega and Castellano believed that in order to be successful Zara has to respond quickly to the market trends and this only possible if the company has a decentralized decision-making model.  This is why the store managers of the company hold the power to select inventory for respective stores without consulting the head quarters. The main philosophy behind such organizational policy is to save time to support the JIT delivery model of Zara.  

African American Heritage Paper Essay Example for Free

African American Heritage Paper Essay This paper explores the African American heritage and also identifies the significance of nurses being culturally aware, sensitive and competent when caring for people of African American heritage. Although these terms mentioned above are used interchangeably, they have different meanings. Cultural awareness is appreciating the external or material part of the culture, such as the music, arts, and physical characteristics, and dress. Cultural sensitivity is the personal attitudes toward the culture, such as not saying things that is offensive to someone from a different ethnic or cultural background (Purnell,2013, p. 4). Cultural competence is putting it all together; by using your knowledge to provide culturally congruent care and to be able to work effectively with people in cross- cultural situations. African Americans are the second largest ethnocultural groups in the United States; however, it is one of the most misunderstood cultures. This culture is so unique because they have mixed their cultures from their different homes of origin in Africa, along with American culture. This paper overviews the history, communications, family roles, workforce issues, biocultural ecology, high-risk behaviors, pregnancy and childbearing practices, spirituality, health care practices, nutrition, and death rituals in the African American culture. It is important that nurses see themselves as becoming culturally competent when caring for African Americans, and this involves incorporating cultural desire, cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural skill, and cultural encounter with the people of African American heritage (Campinha-Bacote, 2009). 2 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE One of the largest minority groups in the United States, African Americans culture includes the various cultural traditions of different African ethnic groups. â€Å"Data from the U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census (2001) reveals that there are approximately 34,333,000 African Americans residing in the United States, representing 12. 1% of the total population† (Campinha-Bacote, 2009). They were forcibly imported into the United States as slaves from 1619 to 1860 (Purnell, 2013, p. 21). During slavery, they incorporated their culture from their homes of origin, and as a result, their culture included several cultural traditions of African ethnic groups. Many African Americans live in poverty due to discrimination and lack of proper education. Most families of African American heritage value education, but they still struggle to have equal representation in the workplace, and are more likely to work in a hazardous environment, resulting in job related diseases and illness. Due to the lower-level positions and the difficulty in achieving higher opportunities in the workplace, some African Americans continue to feel discouraged. Nurses need to address discrimination and also issues that create ethnic or racial tension in the workplace. English is the language spoken by African Americans, however, people of lower socio economical status communicate in an informal language known as African American English (AAE) (Purnell, 2013, p. 22). According to Campinha-Bacote (2009), the major problem that AAE speakers face is prejudice. Most people believe that AAE is inferior to Standard American English. As a result, African Americans who speak AAE are sometimes misinterpreted as being uneducated. Nurses should be aware not to stereotype African Americans as only speaking AAE, and also not to stereotype them as uneducated based on the way they communicate. African Americans are expressive when 3. A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE communicating and often use body languages to convey their feelings. Their expressive language and body movement can be misconstrued as anger or provocation. Nurses need to be familiar with these characteristics and not misinterpret them. As a nurse, when interacting with African Americans for the first time, be sure to address them formally, until given permission to use other names, such as their first name. The African-American family has evolved over the last two decades and still continues to evolve. A person that is brought up in a traditional nuclear family is more likely to continue that tradition. Whereas, a person that is brought up in a single parent home is more likely to continue that same tradition. Although these situations are more likely, they are not always so. To provide the most competent care, the best thing for the nurse to do would be to ask the patient in a non-judgmental way about family dynamics and also ask them what they would feel the most comfortable with when it comes to decision making for their care. The nurse should then accept this decision. Being knowledgeable about this cultural group’s family values and beliefs are crucial for providing care for the African American patient (Revell McGhee, 2012). A high percentage of African American households are matriarchal and fall below poverty level. With that being said, it is wise for nurses to make a point of including women when discussing health care issues. Nurses also should take note when dealing with homosexual individuals in this ethnic group, not to break confidence by sharing their lifestyles with others. This information can jeopardize and cause conflicts within the family and ruin relationships. Romantic relationships of the same-sex are not totally acceptable within this culture. 4 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE As in many culture, social status is important in African American community. African Americans are often met with negative atmosphere and prejudice attitudes based on their cultural background and skin color. Assumptions are made based on AAE spoken by some as an indication of unintelligence and the lack of education. These assumptions sometimes affect employment opportunities and job promotions. Nurses should be cautious not to fall into the stereotyping African Americans based on these characteristics. African American skin color ranges from light to very dark due to the combination of a gene pool of more than 100 racial strains (Purnell, 2013, p. 25). When assessing for cyanosis in dark-skinned African Americans, be sure to pay attention to the oral mucosa or conjunctiva. When assessing for pallor, note the absence of the underlying red tones that give the skin it’s glow. Lastly, when observing for jaundice, be sure to look at the sclera of the eyes, the soles of the feet, and the palms of the hands for any yellow discoloration (25). Health care is a luxury that low socioeconomic African Americans may not be able to afford. Meeting their daily needs takes priority over what they believe to be minor health issues. Consequently, diseases that could be treatable might end up being a life- threatening situation. African Americans are family orientated, because of this; some tend to initially seek medical attention from family members rather than going to a health care professional. Health care professionals need to be aware of this and work toward teaching and distributing health information via church and community centers. Most African American women are against abortion due to religious, cultural, and moral beliefs. As a result, there is a delay in making a decision until it becomes too late. 5 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE Family support is crucial for pregnant African American women. Gichia (2000) studied and found out that African American women look for role models such as older female relatives, or if they have none, they look for someone who seemed like a mother to them, such as a neighbor. These role models can provide the pregnant woman and new mother with needed support. According to Abbyad Robertson (2011), nurses caring for pregnant African American women need to be informed about the variety of ways in which childbirth preparation can occur, as in any other group of pregnant women. Moreover, nurses need to consider the ways in which their attitudes and behaviors send unwelcoming messages to African American women seeking prenatal care or childbirth classes. These attitudes can discourage the African American woman in seeking further care. â€Å"Culturally competent care for the childbearing African American woman includes addressing all components of care including the use of complementary and alternative medicine† (Revell, 2012). The childbirth nurse that is providing culturally competent care should be aware that the perceived norm is different for every family. African Americans are spiritual and are usually affiliated with some religious order. Historically, the church has played a major role in the life of African American culture. The church is a place where they can meet on common grounds. Faith and prayer is one of the most important attributes of Christian African Americans. They believe that God has the power to heal them, and he also has the power not to. They believe that whatever happens to them is according to God’s will. Food is very valuable in the African American culture. It symbolizes health and wealth. It is derived from African descent. When food is offered to someone, it means that the person is valued; and by offering food, they are given you something that is 6 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE valuable to them. When it comes to nutrition, some African American diets are high in cholesterol and fats. According to James (2004), â€Å"African Americans will need information on basic nutrition topics such as serving sizes and reading food labels†. Nurses that work in African American communities should be involved in programs that promote healthy food choices. These programs can specifically be developed for churches, neighborhood grocery stores, and local restaurants. â€Å"Health disparities among the African-American population include life expectancy, heart disease, hypertension, infant morality and morbidity rates, cancer, sickle cell diseases, HIV/AIDS, violence, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and asthma† (Campinha-Bacote, 2009). Unfortunately, they have the tendency to see a health care professional only when absolutely necessary. â€Å" Health is viewed as harmony with nature, whereas illness is seen as a disruption in this harmonic state due to demons† (Purnell,2013, p. 33). Recognize and support your patient cultural behaviors and believes to promote healthy interactions. In addition, always provide factual information about health practices that may not be understood due to their cultural believes and cultural differences. In conclusion, it is recommended that nurses familiarize themselves with cultural specific information in order to provide cultural competent care in African American community. Nurses should consider the following question: â€Å"In caring for African- American patients, have I asked myself the right questions. † It is important for nurses to be aware of their biases and prejudices toward African Americans. In addition, they should possess the needed skills to conduct a cultural assessment while possessing knowledge of this cultural group (Campinha-Bacote, 2009). Lastly, nurses should always 7 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE have the desire to become culturally competent not just with African American patients, but any patient that has been placed in their charge. 8 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE Resources Abbyad, C. , Robertson, T. (2011). African American Womens Preparation for Childbirth From the Perspective of African American Health-Care Providers. Journal Of Perinatal Education, 20(1), 45-53. doi:10. 1891/1058-1243. 20. 1. 45 Campinha-Bacote, J. (2009). Culture and diversity issues. A culturally competent model of care for African Americans. Urologic Nursing, 29(1), 49-54. Gichia, J. E, (2000), Mothers and others: African-American womens preparation for motherhood. The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing, 25(2), 86-91, James, D. (2004). Factors influencing food choices, dietary intake, and nutrition-related attitudes among African Americans: application of a culturally sensitive model. Ethnicity Health, 9(4), 349-367. Purnell, L. D. (2009). People of African American Heritage. Guide to culturally competent health care (2nd ed. , p. 21-35). Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Co. Revell, M. A. , McGhee, M. N. (2012). Evolution of the African American Family. International Journal Of Childbirth Education, 27(4), 44-48. Revell, M. A. (2012). Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the African American Culture. International Journal Of Childbirth Education, 27(3), 55-59.